The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's Resolve

The Crown Prince's palace.

"Young Master, Dugu Bo seems to have vanished."

Snake Lance Douluo silently appeared beside Qian Renxue.

"Dugu Bo..." Qian Renxue pondered to herself. After a moment, she said, "Elder Snake Lance, go investigate in secret as well."

"Yes, Young Master."

Snake Lance Douluo immediately vanished from where he stood.

A meaningful smile curled at the corner of Qian Renxue's lips.

She had always been secretly poisoning Xue Ye, but because of Dugu Bo's presence, every dose had been extremely small. She was worried Dugu Bo would notice something amiss.

If... Dugu Bo had truly met with an accident, then perhaps the plan could be completed ahead of schedule.

Meanwhile, following Xue Ye's orders, Meng Shenji mobilized the Imperial Guards and began the operation, while the other two education committee members returned to the Royal Academy.

The two committee members first informed Dugu Yan of Your Majesty's decision, then began their search.

Upon learning of Xue Ye's arrangements, the worry hanging over Dugu Yan's heart eased slightly.

However... five days passed.

Neither the Imperial Guards nor the Royal Academy's people managed to find any valuable clues.

Dugu Bo seemed to have vanished from the face of the earth, leaving behind no trace whatsoever.

During this time, Yu Tianheng also used the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's influence to investigate in secret, but likewise found nothing.

Seeing Dugu Yan grow increasingly haggard by the day, he was anxious at heart but powerless to do anything.

The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan was not united from top to bottom. The faction led by his second grandfather, Yu Luomian, had always been eyeing the position of the next clan head.

As for Yu Tianheng's own branch, some clan elders had already begun reevaluating his relationship with Dugu Yan.

After all, without her Title Douluo grandfather, Dugu Yan's value had greatly diminished in those elders' eyes.

She would offer no help whatsoever in his future competition for the position of clan head.

That day, after training ended, Yu Tianheng found Dugu Yan sitting alone in the lounge.

"Yanzi," Yu Tianheng said softly as he sat beside her, "is there still no news from the royal family?"

Dugu Yan shook her head. Her face was pale, and her eyes had lost all their light.

Her parents had died early, and her grandfather, Dugu Bo, was her only family. Since childhood, she and her grandfather had depended on one another for survival. If something had truly happened to him, what was she supposed to do...

Dugu Yan gently rested her head against Yu Tianheng's shoulder, her voice choked with emotion. "Tianheng, I'm so scared... so scared that something has really happened to Grandfather..."

Yu Tianheng turned to look at the despondent Dugu Yan, pain stabbing through his heart. He reached out and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "Yanzi, Senior Dugu is extraordinarily powerful. He'll definitely be all right."

Yet the ominous feeling in Yu Tianheng's heart only grew heavier as time passed.

If Dugu Bo had truly met with misfortune, it would not only deal a devastating blow to Dugu Yan.

The entire balance of the Heaven Dou Empire—and even his future with Dugu Yan—would be completely changed.

Another five days passed, yet there was still no news.

The Royal Academy's search had gradually slowed. After all, the academy needed to function normally and could not devote itself to this matter indefinitely.

Only Meng Shenji and the Imperial Guards in Sunset Forest continued searching.

But everyone understood without saying it.

Dugu Bo had been missing for over a month. He had most likely met with disaster.

At dusk that day, Yu Tianheng was urgently summoned back to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.

The atmosphere within the grand sect hall was solemn.

Clan Head Yu Yuanzhen sat in the seat of honor, with several clan elders seated on either side.

"Tianheng," Yu Yuanzhen said in a steady voice, getting straight to the point, "you should understand the situation regarding Dugu Bo."

Yu Tianheng's heart tightened. Lowering his head, he replied, "Your grandson understands, but the search is still ongoing. What if..."

"Stop deceiving yourself." One of the clan elders interrupted Yu Tianheng. "Both the royal family and our clan have already done everything we could. Given the current circumstances, Dugu Bo has most likely already fallen."

Yu Yuanzhen nodded slightly, his gaze sharp as lightning as it fixed on Yu Tianheng.

"The clan allowed you to pursue Dugu Yan because we valued the Poison Douluo standing behind her. Now that Dugu Bo is most likely gone, this marriage has lost its meaning."

Yu Tianheng abruptly raised his head. "Grandfather! Yanzi and I sincerely care for each other. It wasn't entirely because of—"

"Foolish!" Yu Yuanzhen rebuked sternly. "You are one of the future heirs of my Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. How can you treat marriage as child's play?"

"Dugu Yan has lost her Title Douluo grandfather. She is all alone now—how can she help you compete for the position of clan head in the future?"

"Or do you intend to hand the position of clan head over to your second grandfather's faction?!"

"But..."

"No buts."

Yu Yuanzhen's tone brooked no argument, carrying the decisiveness of a family head:

"From today onward, you are to cut off all contact with Dugu Yan. You will no longer attend Heaven Dou Royal Academy either."

"The family will find you a new marriage prospect. Ning Fengzhi's daughter from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, or direct descendants of other major sects, would all be suitable choices."

Yu Tianheng felt as though he had been struck by lightning. He stood frozen in place, his fists clenched tightly.

He knew full well that the family's will was difficult to defy. With his current strength and standing, he was nowhere near capable of resisting such a decision.

Dugu Yan's figure surfaced in Yu Tianheng's mind, and a sharp pain pierced his heart.

His feelings for Dugu Yan were not merely for the sake of family interests. He truly loved her.

Almost at the same time, two members of Heaven Dou Royal Academy's Academic Affairs Office summoned Dugu Yan to the office.

Zhi Lin looked at the haggard Dugu Yan before him. A trace of reluctance flashed in his eyes, but he still spoke in a grave voice. "Miss Dugu, the academy has... decided to halt the large-scale search."

Dugu Yan swayed, and her face instantly turned deathly pale.

Bai Baoshan added, "The Heaven Dou Imperial Family has not given up. Commissioner Meng and the Imperial Guards are still searching Sunset Forest. His Majesty has promised that the moment there is any lead, you will be notified immediately."

Zhi Lin sighed, his tone gentle yet carrying the cruelty of reality:

"Miss Dugu, Senior Dugu offended quite a few people in the past. Your circumstances may become difficult. When you go out in the future, you must be especially careful."

"I understand." Dugu Yan lowered her head and bit down hard on her lower lip, nearly drawing blood.

Dugu Yan turned and left the Academic Affairs Office...

She did not know how she made it back to her dormitory.

After closing the door, she leaned against its cold surface and slid helplessly to the floor.

Overwhelming grief and unprecedented terror swallowed her whole.

"Grandfather, where have you gone? If something happened to you, what will Yanyan do?"

"Sob..."

Tears streamed down Dugu Yan's cheeks, soaking the front of her clothes.

Sunset Forest.

Meng Shenji and thirty Imperial Guards began carefully searching from the outskirts.

By now, they had already neared the core region.

"Commissioner Meng, there is a high mountain ten li ahead, but it is shrouded in dense poisonous miasma. We did not dare approach it."

An Imperial Guard reported to Meng Shenji.

"Poisonous miasma?"

Meng Shenji fell into thought upon hearing this. That poisonous miasma might truly be connected to His Excellency Dugu.

"Recall the others. We'll go take a look."

"Yes." The Imperial Guard accepted the order and departed.